Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - News

News

TAIPEI – Arima Computer plans to sell its notebook PC and server operations to Flextronics for $191.5 million.

VANCOUVER, WA – Antares Advanced Test Technologies, a global supplier of integrated semiconductor test consumables, announced it has integrated the R&D, manufacturing and support operations of Antares conTech and UMD Advanced Test Technologies following the companies' merger in the third quarter of 2006.

Antares’ 11 acquisitions since 1988 have reportedly left the company the world's largest supplier of high-end semiconductor sockets and connectors and a global supplier of burn-in sockets, automated test equipment consumables and thermal management solutions.

SAN DIEGO – IBM executive Paul R. Brody will keynote the 11th Annual ESCA Conference and Expo, Oct. 29-31, in Santa Clara, CA.

Brody, partner at IBM Global Business Services and global lead, Electronics Industry Strategy Practice, will speak on optimization through collaboration, sharing insights on trends from both the supply side (cost, complexity, competition, commoditization) and the demand side (convergence, connectedness, consumerization, content) that are reshaping the electronics industry.

Also, Karen Butner, supply chain expert and member of the IBM Institute for Business Value, and Jane Barrett, research director and analyst with AMR Research’s Value Chain Strategies Service, will join others to guide an interactive session on Agility and the Globally Integrated Enterprise with a special look at strategies for Taming China's Dragons: When China is part of your supply chain.

For more information, visit www.electronicssupplychain.org.

DERBYSHIRE, UK – Electrochemical manufacturer Electrolube, a division of HK Wentworth Ltd., has received £1.1million in additional funding from Fortis, a large European financial institution.

Fortis provided the funds worth to HK Wentworth following the development of a five-year business plan, and has to date invested £2 million into the group.

The initial affiliation will run for two years, with the possibility of extension. Fortis’ investment is set to impact Electrolube’s international sales, technical support and research and development capability.

WASHINGTON – A lobbying effort began Thursday to curb or halt patent legislation that passed the U.S. House of Representative two weeks ago.

Opponents, namely biotech and pharmaceutical firms, claim the bill would undermine current patent protections and deter investors from taking chances with innovative ideas.

The pending legislation has had support from Microsoft, Cisco, Intel and other big tech firms. It is designed to control excessive litigation; however, detractors claim it would benefit large corporations at the expense of startups.

Inventors and CEOs from more than a dozen companies said they object to the provision that would permit companies to challenge patents after awarded in a subsequent review process.

At a briefing Thursday, several executives said they were concerned that because the esoteric, technical details of patent law are difficult to understand, a bad bill might get through Congress.

Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), a chief sponsor of the House bill, said he would continue to "tweak" provisions when Congress negotiates the details of a final bill.

First, the Senate would have to pass its own bill, which Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), said could happen in the next few weeks.

ATLANTA – Stencils are often overlooked or taken for granted, but offer ample opportunities for process improvement and even cost savings.

Those were the takeaways from Photo Stencil regional sales manager Skye McDaniel, who on Thursday offered up an informative and occasionally humorous presentation on stencil selection at the Atlanta SMTA chapter meeting.

HELSINKI – Sampo Bank opposes the planned merger of subsidiary PCB maker Aspocomp Oy with its parent company, a merger decided on in May by the board of Aspocomp Group Oyj.

Aspocomp will consider available options, the company reports.

The planned registration date for the merger was Sept. 30.

Sampo Life Insurance Co. owns a roughly 4% stake in Aspocomp Group Oyj, down from more than 10% earlier this year. Sampo Life is part of the same group as Sampo Bank.

LEWISTON, MN – RiverSide Electronics has achieved ISO 13485:2003 medical certification, the company reports. ISO 13485:2003 is the international quality management standard for manufacturers of medical devices. Emphasis is placed on risk management, material traceability, process qualification, and software validation.

“ISO 13485:2003 certification strengthens our core competencies and positions us for continued growth,” GM Gregg Reick said in a statement.

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL – BEST Inc. announced the launch of its SMT manufacturing class, a training course designed for technicians, operators, engineers and other personnel new to SMT assembly who would like to deepen their knowledge about the steps involved in the manufacturing of electronics assemblies.

The classes consist of practical assembly techniques, hands-on demonstrations, local area plant tours, subject matter expert explanations and classroom lectures.

Students are exposed to a combination of lab/plant tour information and classroom lectures.

The next class is in November in Rolling Meadows, IL.

For more information, visit www.solder.net.

NEW YORK — Dover Corp. yesterday said it will reorganize into four business segments and restate some results to reflect the new structure.

The conglomerate reduced its recent earnings per share of continuing operations due to the reaccounting of two now-discontinued businesses: Crenlo and Graphics Microsystems.

The company said it restated the past three years of financial reports, but did not provide further details.

Under the new structure, the four segments will be industrial products, engineered systems, fluid management and electronic technologies. The latter includes such companies as DEK, Everett-Charles Technologies, OK International and Ovation, among others.

In a statement, Dover said the reorganization will help save on costs, make the company simpler to understand for investors, and give a clearer direction to future acquisitions.

GELDERN, GERMANY – Ruwel GmbH, Europe’s second largest PCB manufacturer, named Bruno Haelg to manage production, research and development, quality and finance.

Haelg last ran the business of Unaxis Balzers AG, a supplier of equipment for semiconductor technology, data storage and displays. He has degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration.

He takes over for interim manager Detlev Schauwecker of AlixPartners.

Ralf Ebeling will continue to run sales/marketing, logistics and personnel, the company said.

Ruwel had 2006 sales of $205 million, flat with 2005, according to PCD&M consulting editor Dr. Hayao Nakahara.